Housing for shoe machines



March 23, 1943. Q HAAS HOUSING FOR SHOE MACHINES Filed July 31, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet 2 mentor Patented Mar. 23, 1943 HDUSING FOR SHOE MACHINESOtto It. Haas, North Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe MachineryCorporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation'of New Jersey ApplicationJuly 31, 1941, Serial No. 404,352

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to shoe sewing machines and moreparticularly to ornamental enclosing housings for machines of this typearranged to protect the operating parts of the machine against injuryand accumulation of dust or foreign materials.

An outsole shoe sewing machine having an enclosing housing is disclosedin the present inventors copending application for U. S. Letters PatentSerial No. 294,926, filed September 14, 1939. That machine is providedwith a main frame having rectangularly spaced vertical posts forsupporting the stitch forming devices, a front and rear enclosing coverarranged to extend laterally beyond the frame posts and a separate plateat either end of the cover secured to those portions of the coverextending laterally beyond the posts. In order to draw the edges of thecover and end plates together with a tight joint in that machine,fastenings are inserted along the adjoining edges of the cover andplates, theoplates being supported solely by the cover. In makingadjustments or repairs in the machine, it frequently is desirable toremove the front or rear covers and before doing this in the machine ofthe application, the fastenings connecting the end plates must beremoved. Removal of the iastenings from the end plates not only requiresan additional time consuming operation, but frequently results in damageto the fastenings or in bendingthe edges of the plates and cover in.such a way that it is difficult to re-assemble the parts with a tightfitting, dust excluding joint.

The object'of the present invention is to simplify and improve theconstruction and arrangement of an enclosing housing in an outsole shoesewing machine in which the stitch forming devices are sufiicientlyexposed at the front of the housing to render sewing operations feasibleand in which any of the parts of the machine inside the cover structureare easily rendered accessible upon removal of a minimum number offastenings without danger of damage to the iasteni-ngs or injury to themeeting edges of the housing structure.

-With these and other objects in View, the present inventioncontemplates provision in a shoe sewing machine having a main supportingframe of generally rectangular cross-section with spaced vertical postsbetween which the stitch forming devices are located and exposed at thefront of the frame, a frontand rearlcover extending laterally beyond theframe posts and a separate flanged endplate forming with the ,55

laterally extending portions of the cover a compartment at the side ofthe frame, of braces acting inside the compartment to draw the fiatedges of the ,front and rear cover structure and the flanges on the endplate together with a tight joint. With theuse of braces inside thecover, separate fastenings for the cover and end plate preferably areemployed engaging the braces, so arranged as to render either the coveror the end plate removable without disturbing the fastenings for theother. Accordingly, removal of either the cover or the end plate issimplified and the braces may be constructed with suitably bent portionsto draw the edges oi the cover and flanges on the end plate moresecurely together than with the use of fastenings passing directlythrough overlapping parts of the housing. V

A further feature of the invention relates to a construction andarrangement for supporting lighting devices in the frame of the machineabove the exposed portions of the stitch forming devices in suchrelationship that a single arcuate hood hinged at one end to the coverstructure is formed at its unhinged end when in closed position toprotect thelighting devices and when in open position, to renderaccesible both the lighting devices and the upper portions of themachine inside the housing. In the embodiment of this feature, theunhinged end of the hood is releasably secured to a cross bar connectedbetween portions of the machine frame. The cross bar, as illustrated,also has mounted upon it a buffer to serve as a stop for locating .theunh-lnged end of the hood accurately in closed position. Other featuresrelate to the use,

with a hood composed of relatively material, of more than one bufferspaced along the cross bar to distribute the forces exerted when thehood is secured in place by quickly releasable fastening members and tothe arrangement of reflectors for lighting devices in the form orresilient curved 'members having a U-shaped cross sectionand angularlydisposed flanges for holding the reflectors neleasably in place oncleats supported by a cowl plate disposed between the stitch forming andlighting devices.

Althou h the features of the invention are hereinafter illustrated asembodied in ,an outsole shoe sewin machine 1of the type disclosed thecopending application, certain of the features, such as the internalcorner brace for fastenmg the parts .of the housing together, are .of

more general utility applicable to advantage with housings for otherpurposes or machines in which it is desired to fasten together enclosingcovers and flanged end plates.

These and other features, together with the constructions, combinationsand arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, willreadily be understood by those skilled in the art from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whichFig. 1 is a view in front elevation, partly broken away, of a machineembodying the features of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view,looking from the right of the machine, with the right end plate brokenaway to illustrate the underlying frame structure; Fig. 3 is a sectionalview illustrating one of the corner braces on an enlarged scale takenalong the line 3-3 of Fig.2; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view of thebrace illustrated in Fig. 3, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5is a further detail view taken in section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;Fig. 6' is a detail plan view of the cross brace and lighting means inthe machine housing; Fig. 7 is a side sectional view showing thearrangement for the fastening of the hood and for the mounting of thelighting reflectors; Fig. 8 is a detail in elevation, looking in thedirection of the arrow 8 in Fig. 7, of the front edge of the hood,together with clasp operating means for releasing the hood from thefastening members; Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view on an enlargedscale, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a detail view ofthe lower front cover supporting brace of the machine with the frontcover removed, as seen from the line 10-40 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is afurther detail view of the lower front cover supporting brace taken fromthe left side of Fig. 10; Fig, 12 is a view in horizontal section on anenlarged scale taken along the line l2-l2 of Fig. 1, showing theconstruction of the upper supports for the front cover and end plate;and Fig. 13 is a view in front elevation of the same supports with thefront cover removed, as seen from the line l3--l3 of Fig. 12.

The illustrated machine is a lockstitch outsole shoe sewing machine ofthe same general construction and mode of operation as disclosed in U.-S. Letters Patent to French and Meyer No. 473,870'of April 26, 1892, andin the application of the present inventor above identified. The stitchforming devices of the machine are actuated by a single main sewingshaft 2 having cams 3 and associated mechanisms operated by a powerdriven belt 4 engaging a pulley Son the shaft 2.

anisms for the stitch forming devices are enclosed within asymmetrically shaped ornamental dust excluding housing.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the stitchforming devices include a curved hook needle 8, and work support ii apresesr foot l2, a rotary shuttle l4, and other thread engaging membersexposed at the front of the housing. The main sewing shaft 2 isrotatably mounted in bearings, one of which As in the machine ofinventors applica-' tion, the driving belt and all the operatingmechframe members 24, the forward ends of which are anchored to theoifset upper ends of a pair of vertical braces 26 (see Figs. 7 and 12).The braces 26 extend downwardly and are secured at their lower ends to afixed shelf '28 extending forwardly from the machine frame. The fixedparts thus far referred to constitute the main frame of the machine andare so arranged as to form a continuous support extending outside all ofthe operating parts of the machine with the exception of the exposedwork engaging portions of the stitch forming devices.

As in the machine of the application, the housing comprisessubstantially fiat front and rear casing members 30, 32, 3 1 and 36supported directly by the vertical posts and by other portions of themain frame. The casing members 36 consist of a pair of forwardlyswinging doors having vertically arranged hinges 38 mounted on thebraces 25. The front and rear casing members are formed with a sweepingfront to rear curvature covering the head of the machine to provide anartistic effect and extend laterally beyond the corner posts 20 andframe members 24 so that the space inside the housing is divided by thecorner posts and frame members into a central compartment 4|] and twoend compartments B2 and 44 within which the main driving pulleys, beltsand other equipment are enclosed.

The housing for the machine of the application is so arranged that thefront and rear casing members are secured to the frame by lines offastening screws passing directly into the frame to enclose the endcompartments of that machine, nuts for the screws being permanentlyattached inside the housing by welding. Flanged end plates, as indicatedat 63, fitting theedges of the front and rear casing members are securedthereto by lines of fastenings separate from those employed to securethe front and rear casing members to the main frame, said additionallines of fastenings passing directly through the edges of the front andrear casing members and the flanges on the end plates. All the lines offastenings in the applicationmachine are substantially parallel andobscured by suitable ornamental cover strips similar to those indicatedat 46 in the present illustrated machine. As a result, when thefastenings between the casing members and end plates of the machines inthe application are drawn tightly, they tend to warp the flat edges ofthe casing members and flanges on the end plates and so cause the edgesand flanges to gape between the fastenings. AlsO, since the fasteningsof the prior machine are obscured by the cover strips 46, it isnecessary to remove the strips before access to the mechanisms withinthe housing is obtainable. Because the fastenings in the machine of theapplication ordinarily draw the flat edges of the casing members andflanges on the end plates into firm contact to prevent loosening fromvibration while the machine is in use, it sometimes happens duringremoval that the fastenings themselves are strained or the edges andflanges on the parts otherwise injured so that it is difiicult later toreassemble them in tight fitting relationship. In any event, it alwaysis necessary to remove the end plates in the application machine beforeremoving the front or rear casing members. In the present illustratedmachine,

however, most of the fastenings for the cover strips 46 serve no otherfunction than to hold the strips in place.

The front and rear casing members and end plates of the housing in themachine of the present invention are secured in" place and their edgesdrawn together without substantial tendency to gape through the actionof a special construction in corner brace-having fastenings accessiblefrom outside the housing arranged to permit removal of either the casingmembers or the end plates without disturbing fastenings for the others.The fastenings for the casing members and end plates are located at adistance from the edges of the members and the flanges of the plates sothat even with the use of relatively thin materials for the casingmembers and end plates, the forces-exerted by the fastenings will notcause distort-ion of the edges or flanges. As a further convenient meansof reinforcing the plates, a pairof cross pieces 41 are secured to theinside surface of each end plate. a

For drawing the flat edges of the lower front casing member 38 intoclose fitting relationship with the flanges on the end plates 43, asbest shown in Figs. 9, and 11-, braces constructed as at 48 areprovided. The braces 48 are secured by bolts, one of which is indicatedat 59, to the main frame of the machine and extend between the base 18and the under side of the shelf 28. Each brace is formed with a shankportion 52 for receiving sets of fastening screws 54 passing through aflat part of the front casing member 130-. Oifset from the shank 52 ineach brace 48 is the main portion of the shank spaced by the distance ofoifset from the edge of the casing member 30, thus leaving the edge ofthe casing member free to be flexed in either direction sufiiciently toform a tight'joint with the adjacent flange of an end plate 43. Tosecure the end plate in place, the brace has rightangle tabs 56projecting away from the edge of the casing member within which tabs arereceived sets of fastening screws 58-. The shape of the brace thus fardescribed is such that as either or'both sets of fastening screws 54 or58 are tightened, there is a tendency to fiexthe brace in a directionwhich will draw the edge and flange of the parts being fastened intoclose relationship. To press the edge and flange on the parts still moreclosely together, each brace has one or more-fulcrum arms 60 benttowards the extreme edge of the casing member and provided with a toecurving along the surface of the cas= ing member acting against theflange on the end plate when the flange is inserted between the casingmember and the fulcrum arm. With the toe of the fulcrum arm adjustedproperly with relation to the shank-52 of the brace, the brace acts as alever on the flange of the end plate when the fastening 58 in the'endplate is tightened, causing any fiexure of the brace either centeredabout the offset in the shank or about the toe of the fulcrum arm todraw the edge of the casing member more securely against the flange onthe end plate.

While the ornamental strips 45 in the present housing do not serve toobscure the linesof fastenings for the casing members and end plates, asin the housing of the application, the present strips do stiffen theedges of the plates and prevent them from becoming warped or sodistorted as to gape from the flanges of the end plates. In certaininstances, the fastenings for the ornamental strips may be employed toadvantage in holding portions of the housing together, where the problemof removability is unimportant. Besides drawing the edges of the casingmembers and flanges on the nd plates moreciosei together than whenstraight through fastenings in the edges and flanges are employed, as inthe housing of the-application, the use of the separate braces alsopermits removal of either an end plate or the front casing member 30without disturbing the fastenings for the other..

Other forms of brace ofsiinilar construction and mode of operation areemployed in other parts of the housing, the present form illustrated inFigs. 3, 4 and 5- being more useful Where the brace is not supporteddirectly by the main frame of the machine. The brace of these figures'isindicated bytne numeral 62 and consists of a shank portion 64 secured toan angle bracket 66 to which in turn is-secured the rear casing member32 at a point some distance from the edge of the casing member. Thebrace 62 has an offset in the shank to space the edge of the casingmember 32 from the brace, an end plate fastening tab 68 and a fulcrumarm 10 having a toe bent into the plane of the casing member at the edgethereof. The function of the brace 62 is similar to that of the brace48, the brace 62 acting as a lever fulcruming about the arm 10 wheneverfastening screws 12 for the casing member 32 or fastening screws 14 forthe end plates are tightened. The fulcruming action of the brace andflexure of the brace, as a result of tightening the fastenings, tends tocrowd the flange 'on the end plates against the edge of the casingmember.

The braces 26 for the upper front of the machinehousing (Fig. 12) whilenot of exactly the same construction as those previously described, areformed with a channel section having. unequal arms to produce similarcrowding actions on the flanges of the end plates. Eachof the braces 26has securedto it a separate clip l6 having an end plate fastening tab84. The longer arm 18 of the braceforms a support for the door hinges38, the brace having secured to it by a fastening screw a narrow frontcasing plate 82 forming a separate portion of the housing outside thehinged doors 3?. The clip 16 has a right angle ar-m bent into parallelrelation with the longer arm of the brace 26. To cause the brace tofulcrum about the flange of the end plate and to draw the fiat edge ofthe casing member against the flange when the screws 88 or 86 aretightened,the brace 26 has the end of its shorter arm bent against theclip 16at the outer surface of the angle between the tab 84 and the mainbody of the clip. The bracing action offered by this arrangement, whilenot as effective in bringing the edges of the partstogether, issufficient- 1y so where a relatively narrow casing strip is employed inthe housing.

The machine of inventors application is provided with a pair of sewinglights mounted above the exposed stitch forming devices and protectedfrom accidental contact by perforated flanges projecting forwardly fromthe upper edges of the front swinging doors of that machine housing. Toreach the lights when replacement or adjustment is necessary, the doorsare provided with flanges protecting the under sides of the fixtures andreflectors for the lights except when the doors'are opened.

In the for'm or construction embodying the present invention, thelights, as well as a substantial proportion of the operating mechanismsfor the stitch forming devices are accessible from above by raising anarcuate hood 88 hinged along its lower rear end at- 90 to the upper edgeof the casing member 32. The lightsare mounted in electrical fixtures92' (see Fig. 6), secured to the frame members 24 and are protected by aperforated cowl plate 94 also mounted on the frame members 24. The lighttransmitting perforations in the cowl plate are closed by suitable lighttransmitting shields 96 slidably received within angular cleats 98fastened inside the cowl plate. Surrounding the lights within thecowlare a pair of reflectors I of U-shaped cross-sectionprm vided withangularly disposed flanges along the opposite edges arranged to bereceived within the cleats 98. The reflector I00 is composed ofrelatively thin resilient sheet. metal so that it may be flexed into thedot-dash position in order to remove it for convenient replacement oradjustment of the lights in the fixtures 92.

The forward end of the hood 88 is formed to. fit the upper edge of thecowl plate 94 and when in closed position, is secured in place bysuitable quickly releasable fastening mounted on a cross bar I02 securedat its ends to the frame membersZl. To locate the hood in closedposition and distribute the forces of the fastenings so that relativelythin material may be employed in the hoodwithout distorting it fromproper shape, the cross bar I02 has a pair of spaced buffers I04 securedto its end portions. These buffers consist of plates having pads I06 ofresilient material arranged to be contacted by angular plates I08 on thecover (see Fig. 7).

The fastenings for the hood include a, pair of straps IIO spaced alongthe bar I02 and connected at their upper ends to the bar and at theirlower ends to an angular portion of the cowl 94. The lower ends of thestraps H0 are slotted to receive the spaced hooked ends'of a clasp plateII2 secured to the hood. When the hood is closed with the angular platesI88 against the buffers, the hooked ends of the clasp plate enter theslots in the straps H0, effectively securing the hood in place. Torelease the hooked ends of the clasp plate simultaneously fromtheperforations in the straps. I I0, the hooked ends are bent around crankmembers on a finger lever II4 rotatable in central sleeve-like portionsof the plate. The finger lever has a U-shaped actuating arm extendingthrough a notch in the edge of the hood to a position beneath a handleIIS on the hood, the actuating arm of the lever and the handle being solocated as to facilitate unlocking and raising the hood with a singlemovement. To hold the hood in opened position, as indicated in dot-dashlines of Fig. 2, there is connected between the hood and the machineframe a short length of chain H8. With the hood raised, full andconvenient access is available for the lights, cams and. other operatingmechanisms within the machine housing.

The nature and scope of the invention having been indicatedj'and aconstruction embodying the several features of the invention having beenspecifically described, what. is claimed I is 1. A shoe sewing machinehaving, in combination, a main supporting frame of generally rectangularcross-section having spaced vertical posts, stitch forming devicescarried by the main frame and exposed at the front of the frame, a frontand rear enclosing cover structure arranged to extend laterally beyondthe frame and supported by the frame, a separate end plate forming withthe laterally extending portions of the front and rear cover structure acompartment at the side of the frame posts, and braces acting inside thecompartment to draw the edges members of the front and rear coverstructure and of the end plate together with a tight joint.

2. A shoe sewing machine having, m combination, a main supporting frameof generally rectangular cross-section having spaced vertical posts,stitch forming devices carried by the main frame and exposed at thefront of the frame, a front and rear enclosing cover structure arranged-to extend laterally beyond the frame and supported by the frame, aseparate end plate forming with the laterally extending portions of thefront and rear cover structure a compartment at the side of the frameposts, braces acting inside the compartment to draw the edges of thefront and rear cover structure and of the end plate together with atight joint,.and fastenings for the front cover structure and for theend plate in the braces accessible from outside of the compartment forremoving either the front cover structure or the end plate withoutdisturbing the, fastenings for the other.

3. A shoe sewing machine having, in combination, a main supporting frameof generally rectangular cross-section having .spaced vertical posts,stitch forming devices carried by the main frame and exposed at thefrontof the frame, a front and rear enclosing cover structure arrangedto extend laterally beyond the frame and supported by the frame, aseparate flanged end plate fitting the edges of the laterally extendingportions of the front and rear cover structure to form a compartment atthe side of the frame posts, and braces inside the compartment havingportions bent towards the edges :of the front and rear cover structureto draw the flanged portions of the end plate against the edges of thecover structure with a tight joint.

4. A shoe sewing machine having, in combination, a main supporting frameof generally rectangular cross-section having spaced vertical posts,stitch forming devices carried by the main frame and exposed at thefront of the frame, a front and rear enclosing cover structure 8hrangedto extend laterally beyond the frame and supported by the frame,aseparate flanged end plate fltting the edges of the laterally extendingportions of the front and rear cover structure to form a compartment atthe side of the frame posts, and braces inside the compartment havingportions bent towards the edges of the front and rear cover structure todraw the flanged portions of the end plate against the edges of thecover structure with a tight joint, said braces being offset betweentheir ends and having angular-1y disposed tabs for end plate fasteningstending to force the flanged portions of the end plate and the edges ofthe cover structure together when fastenings in the tabs are tightened.5. A shoe sewing machine having, in combination, a main supporting frameof generally rectangular cross-section having spaced vertical posts,stitch forming devices carried by the main frame and exposed at thefront of the frame, a front and rear enclosing cover structure arrangedtoextend laterally beyond the frame and supported by the frame, lightingmeans in the frame above the exposed portions of the stitch formingdevices, and an arcuate hood hinged at one end to the rear coverstructure and formed at the unhinged end when in closed position toprotect the lighting means and when in open position to renderaccessible the lighting means and the. upper portions of the machineinside the cover structure.

6. Ashoe sewing machine having, in combination, a main supporting frameof generally rectangular cross-section having spaced vertical posts,stitch forming devices carried by the main frame and exposed at thefront of the frame, a front and rear enclosing cover structure arrangedto extend laterally beyond the frame and supported by the frame, a crossbar at the front of the frame connected between portions of the frameabove the exposed stitch forming devices, lighting means beneath thecross bar, and an arcuate hood hinged at one end to the rear coverstructure and releasably secured at the unhinged end to the cross bar torender the lighting means accessible.

7. A shoe sewing machine having, in combination, a main supporting frameof generally rectangular cross-section having spaced vertical posts,stitch forming devices carried by the main frame and exposed at thefront of the frame, a

front and rear enclosing cover structure arranged to extend laterallybeyond the frame and supported by the frame, a cross bar at the front ofthe frame connected between portions of the frame above the exposedstitch forming devices, lighting means beneath the cross bar, an arcuatehood hinged at one end to the rear cover structure, and means forreleasably securing the unhinged end of the hood to the cross bar.

8. A shoe sewing machine having, in combination, a main supporting frameof generally rectangular cross-section having spaced vertical posts,stitch forming devices carried by the main frame and exposed at thefront of the frame, a front and rear enclosing cover structure arrangedto extend laterally beyond the frame and supported by the frame, a crossbar at the front of the frame connected between portions of the frameabove the exposed stitch forming devices, lighting means beneath thecross bar, an arcuate hood hinged at one end to the rear coverstructure, a buifer on the cross bar for supporting the unhinged end ofthe hood, and quickly releasable fastening members for securing theunhinged end of the hood to the cross bar.

9. A shoe sewing machine having, in combination, a main supporting frameof generally rectangular cross-section having spaced vertical posts,stitch forming devices carried by the main frame and exposed at thefront of the frame, a front and rear enclosing cover structure arrangedto extend laterally beyond the frame and supported by the frame, a crossbar at the front of the frame connected between portions of the frameabove the exposed stitch forming devices, lighting means beneath thecross bar, and an arcuate hood hinged at one end to the rear coverstructure, a pair of buffers spaced along the cross bar for supportingportions of the hood adjacent the lateral edges thereof, fasteningmembers spaced along the cross bar including clasps on the hood forsecuring the unhinged end of the hood to the cross bar, and commonactuating means for disengaging the clasps to release the fasteningmembers.

10. A shoe sewing machine having, in combination, a main supportingframe of generally rectangular cross-section having spaced verticalposts, stitch forming devices carried by the main frame and exposed atthe front of the frame, a front and rear enclosing cover structurearranged to extend laterally beyond the frame and supported by theframe, a cross bar at the front of the frame connected between portionsof the frame above the exposed stitch forming devices, lighting meansbeneath the cross bar, an arcuate hood hinged at one end to the rearcover struc ture, a cowl plate between the stitch forming devices andthe lighting means perforated to transmit illumination to the stitchforming devices, cleats on the cowl plate, and a reflector for thelighting means in the form of a resilient curved member having aU-shaped cross-section and angularly disposed flanges along oppositeedges fitting the cleats on the cowl plate to hold the reflectorreleasably in place.

11. An internal corner brace for fastening the flange of an end plateinside the substantially flat portion of an enclosing cover structurecomprising a shank secured to the flat portion of the cover structurehaving an offset to space a portion of the shank from the coverstructure, a portion bent from the spaced shank portion towards the edgeof the cover structure, and an end plate fastening tab projecting fromthe spaced shank portion away from the edge of the cover structure tocause the brace to act as a lever fulcruming on the flange of the endplate when a fastening in the tab is tightened.

12. An internal corner brace for fastening the flange of an end plateinside the substantially flat portion of an enclosing cover structurecomprising a shank secured to the flat portion of the cover structurehaving an offset to space a portion of the shank from thecover'structure, a portion bent from the spaced shank portion towardsthe edge of the cover structure to provide a clamp for the flange on theend plate, and an end plate fastening tab projecting from the spacedshank portion away from the edge of the cover structure to cause thebrace to act as a lever fulcruming on the flange of the end plate when afastening in the tab is tightened to force the flange inside the coverstructure and to draw the flat portion of the cover structure towardsthe flange on the end plate by flexure of the brace centered about theoffset.

OTTO R. HAAS.

